Optimum nutrition is vital to sustaining life. More than medications and other forms of treatment during illness, getting optimum nutrition is a major factor in the healing process. People often perish from being malnourished rather than succumbing to their illnesses. If your body is nutrient-deprived, you will not stand a chance of fighting off diseases, no matter how much state-of-the-art treatment you undergo. Good nutrition supports your body's natural defense mechanism—the immune system.

When an individual undergoes a surgical procedure, there are health risks involved. It is important to prevent these nutrition-related problems before and after surgery. Ensuring that the patient obtains optimum nutrition can help prevent complications. During hospitalization, the patient is nutritionally managed by the nutrition and dietetics team in collaboration with other allied health professionals. However, what happens after the patient is discharged from the hospital? Recovery continues at home.

Here are some health tips to speed up your recovery after a surgical procedure:

Unless you are on fluid restriction ordered by your attending physician, ensuring adequate fluid intake, mostly from pure water, is very important. Water helps flush out toxins and waste products from drugs such as anesthesia and antibiotics. Adequate hydration will promote adequate urine output. It is important to note that dark yellow urine can be an indication that an individual is already dehydrated. Urine output should generally be light-colored throughout the day.

Water promotes proper blood circulation and helps prevent blood clots from forming. Efficient blood flow ensures that oxygen and nutrients are delivered to every cell in the body, allowing them to function and repair optimally. Water also helps stabilize blood pressure and prevent swelling. Combined with fiber, adequate water intake can help ease constipation, which is a common side effect of pain medications given after surgery.

Do not wait until your throat gets parched before drinking water. You must be mindful of regularly drinking water upon waking up, during meals, and even between meals or during exercise. If you have to go out, bring a water bottle with you so that water is always readily available.

Protein is needed for the immune system and for building new cells that help heal and repair tissues, promoting proper wound healing. Protein also helps build and maintain muscle mass. Patients may lose muscle mass due to poor nutrition and immobilization.

Protein can be obtained from animal-based or plant-based food sources. Both can provide adequate amounts of protein. However, plant-based protein sources contain phytonutrients, or plant chemicals, that may help reduce inflammation and provide antioxidants that neutralize oxidative stress caused by illness and surgery.

Plant protein sources include soy, quinoa, legumes such as chickpeas and beans, vegetables, and whole grains such as colored rice and oats. If you choose to eat animal protein sources, fish generally has less fat and cholesterol than pork, beef, lamb, eggs, dairy products, and poultry such as chicken.

It is best to have more vegetables and a smaller amount of animal protein, rather than the other way around. Half of your plate should be filled with vegetables, one-fourth with whole grains, and one-fourth with animal protein.

Vitamin C levels in the blood may decrease after surgery. This can be caused by the body's increased demand for vitamin C to fight oxidative stress and promote collagen formation for faster wound healing. Tissue damage and physical stress occur during surgery and can rapidly deplete vitamin C stores in the body.

Wholesome, minimally processed sources of vitamin C are a healthier choice than taking supplements such as ascorbic acid and similar products. Fresh fruits and vegetables can provide vitamin C, as well as other micronutrients, phytochemicals, and fiber.

Vitamin C supplementation must only be prescribed by a doctor or registered nutritionist-dietitian after proper assessment if intake from food sources is inadequate or if a medical condition requires a more concentrated dose to correct nutrient deficiencies. Excessive vitamin C from chemically derived supplements may cause kidney stone formation and other nutrient imbalances.

Vitamin C sources include citrus fruits, berries, guava, kiwi, papaya, mango, and other fruits such as apples and guyabano. Vegetables such as bell peppers, broccoli, cabbage, malunggay, ampalaya, and spinach also contain this vitamin.

Make sure that each meal contains vegetables as a main component, and have fresh fruits for dessert or as a snack to get your daily dose of vitamin C. Having adequate vitamin C also helps with the absorption of iron in the body. This is important in preventing iron-deficiency anemia, which can occur due to poor nutrition and blood loss during surgery.

While you may get gassy after surgery, gradually increasing your fiber intake from fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds is important. A gassy bowel can be a sign of a healthy bowel, as the intestines provide an environment where beneficial bacteria can proliferate and thrive. The fermentation of fiber can produce gas. This process promotes the growth of healthy microorganisms in the gut.

These good bacteria can be affected by medications such as antibiotics. It is important to restore a healthy gut microbiome to support immunity and the recovery process. Gassiness will eventually resolve when balance in the gut microbiome is achieved.

Furthermore, getting adequate fiber intake along with sufficient water can help regulate bowel movements, helping relieve diarrhea or constipation. Both can occur after surgery.

It is best to consult a registered nutritionist-dietitian to ensure optimum nutrition that will help speed up your recovery after surgery.